Li, male, 47 years old, first consultation on October 19, 1997. The patient's usual constitution is relatively good. Two weeks ago, due to excessive fatigue, he accidentally caught wind-cold, presenting symptoms such as aversion to cold with fever, panting cough, and coughing with phlegm. Due to the severity of the condition, he was admitted to a hospital for treatment. Blood test results: total white blood cell count 12×10⁹/L, neutrophils 0.80, lymphocytes 0.20. Chest X-ray report showed patchy blurred shadows in the lower right lung. Treated with both Chinese and Western medicine for over 10 days for pneumonia, but the efficacy was poor.

Examination revealed a pale and dark complexion, body temperature of 38.1℃, panting cough with rapid breathing, chest tightness, coughing up thin white phlegm, body pain, aversion to wind and cold, sweating, pale red tongue with thin white coating, and a floating, thin, and rapid pulse. The syndrome was attributed to wind-cold fettering the exterior, with lung qi failing to disperse and descend. Treatment aimed to release the flesh to dispel cold, calm panting, and stop cough, using the original formula of Cinnamon Twig plus Magnolia Bark and Apricot Decoction:
Cinnamon Twig 12g, Peony Root 12g, Prepared Liquorice Root 6g, Bitter Apricot Seed 10g, Magnolia Bark 15g, Fresh Ginger Rhizome 6g, Chinese Date 6 pieces
. After taking 3 doses of the above medication, the aversion to cold, fever, and body pain disappeared, and the cough and panting were alleviated. The pulse turned floating and weak. The same prescription was continued for another 5 doses to consolidate the therapeutic effect. A week later, the patient's family reported that the illness had been completely cured.